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They also feared the LORD and appointed from their entire population priests of the high places, who acted for them in the houses of the high places.

"And the statutes, the ordinances, the Law, and the commandment which He wrote for you, you shall take care to do always; and you shall not fear other gods.

He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.

He removed the high places and smashed the memorial stones to pieces, and cut down the Asherah. He also crushed to pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel had been burning incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.

For he clung to the LORD; he did not desist from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses.

"You say—but they are only empty words—'I have a plan and strength for the war.' Now on whom have you relied, that you have revolted against me?

"How then can you drive back even one official of the least of my master's servants, and rely on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

"This is what the king says: 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to save you from my hand.

'Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: "Make your peace with me and come out to me, and eat, each one, from his vine and each from his fig tree, and drink, each one, the waters of his own cistern,

And they said to him, "This is what Hezekiah says: 'This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and humiliation; for children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.

'Perhaps the LORD your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to taunt the living God, and will avenge the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the remnant that is left.'"

Then Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.

and have hurled their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but only the work of human hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them.

"This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: 'She, the virgin daughter of Zion, has shown contempt for you and mocked you; She, the daughter of Jerusalem, has shaken her head behind you!

'Then this shall be the sign for you: you will eat this year what grows of itself, in the second year what grows by itself, and in the third year sow, harvest, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.

'For out of Jerusalem will go a remnant, and survivors out of Mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD will perform this.

'For I will protect this city to save it for My own sake, and for My servant David's sake.'"

In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him and said to him, "This is what the LORD says: 'Set your house in order, for you are going to die and not live.'"

"And I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will save you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will protect this city for My own sake and for My servant David's sake."'"

So Hezekiah said, "It is easy for the shadow to decline ten steps; no, but have the shadow turn backward ten steps."